Why My Father Ran

My father began running when he was a young boy fleeing from the Nazis.

What compelled a 60+-year-old man, who had been diagnosed previously with blockages of his heart but refused surgery, to begin running marathons? Here is an excerpt of his story in his own words.

Bilgoraj, Poland: It was a beautiful summer day. Everything was wonderful; the birds were singing, the fields and gardens were dressed like a holiday in velvet green. Children were playing soccer on the field. But all at once, everything becomes very still. Suddenly, overhead in the sky are a few airplanes. The people in the street below start to panic and so it begins -- everywhere in town, people are talking about war. The drummer on the street begins to beat his drum and he relays the bad news... Germany declares war on Poland.

The next day, the city starts to mobilize --people, horses, cars, wagons, even bicycles. The people start to panic and become frightened. The stores become packed with people looking to buy bread and other products. The bread is beginning to disappear. The people are staying many hours on long lines for a piece of bread. The local Polish storekeepers do not want to sell products to the Jews.

We hear the sad news; Germany wants to occupy the port and the city and Poland is stubborn and trying to bargain with Germany. It doesn't take long and the Germans get occupation of the city. With a fast pace, the Germans go forward. In a short time, the Germans take city after city. People say the Germans are not far from Lublin. Great Polish armies come to Bilgoraj and they camp near the new school by the City Hall. Everybody is nervous.

I sit with friends near the house and feed the pigeons and think how good it is for the pigeons. They have wings to fly wherever they want to, but we simple people must suffer through wars. But the time doesn't let me think for long; the fires begin. I run to the point of the roof of a local building; we see a great fire by the bridge and other streets that are burning. We don't see any firemen; only police running around like poisoned mice. They cannot stop the villagers from robbing the Jewish stores. Finally, the shop robbers are put onto wagons and taken away by the local police. The city Bilgoraj burns for three days.

The unlucky Jews whose homes were burned go to live with relatives and friends. Three or four families live in a house with three rooms. And Jews thank God that they got away with their lives. And I, not even 13 years old, feel that a strong cloud would soon fall down.

Through all of this, the Jews do not lose their hope for a better tomorrow. But tragically, the town of Bilgoraj and so many other towns like it are devastated and emptied of almost all the Jews.

Where we were going we do not care, we just have to run.

My family, consisting of my mother, my little sister and two brothers, run. We board a train to leave Bilgoraj. Where we were going we do not care, we just have to run.

The trains are packed with people. Once we make it on to the train, it stops at a station and my brother says to my mother, "I am going down to get you some water." He leaves the train for just a few moments for some water and suddenly the train begins to move again. I cry out in vain, "Stop!! Stop the train! My brother is not back on...."

But the train leaves the station and my brother is left behind. He cannot catch the train. This was a terrible day, which I will never forget for the rest of my life. The image of my brother standing before my eyes, running to catch the train and watching him get further and further away. My mother begins to cry and that, too, is an image I will never forget.

My pen is too poor to describe my mother's sadness and pain. How much I try to give her hope that it would not take long for my brother to catch up with us and be reunited with her again is useless. I am too young to ease her pain – I feel helpless.

My other brother is hit by falling shrapnel and taken to a hospital, but we never see him again because we are running further and further away.

So days and weeks run by and it is just me, my mother and my little sister left on the train from our family.

We finally stop at a town where we believe the war has not yet come. We rent a small room -- just the three of us. But my mother is grieving so much from losing her two sons, so much that one day I say to my mother that I will leave to go find them and bring them home to her.

She replies with tears in her eyes, "I lost two sons and now you want me to lose you too?" But, in my young mind, I think differently. In my mind I want to rescue my family from the town before the Germans came in. I did not understand nor did I ever think for a moment that I would never see my family again.

I beg my mother so much until she finally relents and says to go in good health and come back right away with peace. On such a dark unforgettable night, I kiss my beloved mother and unforgettable sister goodbye and sneak on to a boat and run.

I never do find my brothers – I run from one town to another – each time, the front getting closer. In the months following, I labor in coal mines in Siberia through hard winters, chop trees in the deep, thick forests, work in the fields from morning to night, and live with numerous families who are kind enough to take pity on a 13-year-old boy all alone.

Life goes on. The war finally ends and I want to return to Bilgoraj to find my family. I see some passing soldiers and they ask me where I am headed. I tell them I am returning to Bilgoraj to find my family. They say do not go back to Poland -- you will not find anyone. You will find only ruins... you will not find anybody that you once knew alive.

So I run again -- through Czechoslovakia, Austria, Italy, Israel, Cyprus, Israel and finally America.

I run because they could not.

I eventually marry and have two children of my own and years later, I get the news that I have heart trouble and blockages that could end up causing a stroke or worse. I am told that I need an operation and begin to lose all hope. Fear sets in. I pray to God and ask Him to help me. Then I make an immediate decision -- I will not lose my faith! I will face this with courage, as I have had to do so many times before.

I begin to walk a little at a time, and each time I think of my friends and family I left behind so long ago and imagine them walking beside me. Each day I walk a bit farther and farther until one day I see some marathoners running and I ask them where they were going. They say they are in a race and tell me the direction they are headed. So I begin to run along. As I run, I see the images of my mother and my family running beside me, so I run harder. Eventually, I finish the short marathon with the runners. The feeling of pride and accomplishment are so strong, I decide to run a little each day. Each time I run, I picture a different friend or family member that I left behind in Poland running alongside me. I run because they could not. I will continue to search for my family and keep running until I find them.

Dad continued his search for his family. He even returned to Bilgoraj in the 1990's but could not find them. He also continued entering and finishing marathons for many many years. He kept putting off the surgery but the need for it eventually caught up with him and in his mid 70's, he passed away. However, before my dad died, he had entered over 50 races and marathons and never stopped searching for his family.

"Everything disappeared like a dream." That is what my father wrote in his memoirs. Why My Father Ran is now published and available on Amazon. It is the riveting story of Sam Shatz - a holocaust survivor - who's motto was 'Never Give Up.' That is how he miraculously survived through the holocaust and how he lived his life after the war. Each survivor's story teaches us important lessons about who we are and each story must be told. Here is Sam's story. Visit www.whymyfatherran.webs.com to view photos and to see his DP Camp carvings. Click here for international orders.

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About the Author

Henia Stein lives in Virginia with her husband, Russ. She holds a BA in Sociology and is presently co-writing a book about her father’s life. She and her husband Russ have been involved with the Partners in Torah program for 7 years.

Visitor Comments: 38

Posted the wrong website for ordering outside of the US. I am so sorry. The corrected website to order "Why My Father Ran" outside of the United States:
https://www.createspace.com/3659575

(27)
Komodo,
December 24, 2008 4:20 PM

My Father Samuel

My Father was born in Kolomiya in 1909. When WWI came his Father was able to go to America but there was not enough money for his children and his wife. War eventually came to Kolomiya and my Father and his siblings were forced to flee, roaming all over Eastern Poland and the Ukraine until they one day found themselves back in Kolomiya. There they found a letter from their Father with money which enabled them to come to America. As far as I know they are the only relatives who survived post WWI Poland and the Holocaust, although we've searched. I know that it's been many years but I cannot understand why any Jew would want to live in Poland or Germany.

(26)
Anonymous,
March 13, 2008 7:08 PM

Searching for relatives

My granmother lost her entire family during the war. Her comes fom south-eatern Ukraine from towns, such as Pervomaisk, Bogopol, Kolomiya, Crivoe-Ozero. Her family were in Bogdonovka death camp, Achmechetka death camp and the Pervomaisk ghetto. Their last names were Goldfarb and Segal. If anyone has any information please contact me @ salumatu@hotmail.com

Thank youOlivia Iakoubovski

(25)
Anonymous,
June 12, 2007 9:49 PM

Sweet reading

Nice story, an example of perseverance to everyone. I hope his sons find their family.

hadassa,
July 4, 2011 6:17 AM

murdered family

'sweet' reading? How can anyone describe such terrible loss, pain and horror as 'sweet'? It's just tragic!

ladydi,
August 2, 2011 1:25 PM

SWEET READING?????

Hadassa - I read the story and didnt find it "sweet" at all. It is so sad that he lost his entire family...... I cannot imagine myself going thru this.

(24)
Anny Matara,
June 9, 2007 4:03 AM

BRAVERY> The great willpower of holocaust survivers.

NOWADAYS YOUNGSTERS IN ISRAEL AND ABROAD FIND SO MANY THINGS HARD TO LIVE WITH BUT, WHEN THEY HEAR OUR STORIES HOW WE SURVIVED, NEVER GAVE UP,HOPED- WHEN THERE WAS NO SPARK OF HOPE, THEY THINK OF US AS HEROES (FEW OF US DO)ALL WE WANTED WAS TO SURVIVE AND TO FIGHT FOR OUR FREEDOM IN OUR COUNTRY

(23)
Lynn Silverstein,
June 6, 2007 10:26 PM

Thank you

Thank you for sharing your moving story. Your father's history is so compelling and I look forward to reading about his life.

(22)
Ruth Zaromp,
June 6, 2007 4:30 PM

Looking for relatives

My husband was a little boy in Sosnoviec, Poland. More that 60 people of his family were exterminated by you-know-who. The family name is Zaromp. If anybody knows anything about the family, please contact me at AVZaromp@AOL.com. Thank you. Ruth Zaromp

Anonymous,
August 29, 2011 8:17 PM

Now available!

Thank you for reading this article.
This book is now available for sale in the US here:
http://www.amazon.com/Why-Father-Ran-Henia-Stein/dp/1463796331/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1314648682&sr=8-2
and outside of the US here:
http://www.aish.com/ho/p/48960931.html

(21)
Anonymous,
June 6, 2007 6:40 AM

would like to see that website

To Mr. Rosenzweig,My father also interned at Cyprus before Israel became a state. Could you please post that Israeli website that you found your relatives on?

Thank You

(20)
Anonymous,
June 6, 2007 3:39 AM

This is a life-story full of so much suffering. It has put my life into perspective. Thanks so much for placing it onto the website for all of us to share.

(19)
Anshu verma,
June 6, 2007 2:37 AM

Shocking !!!

Sometimes i feel what the present German generation think about these atrocities being conducted over the mankind by their ancestors ?Do they feel guilt for the crimes of their forefathers.

(18)
Anonymous,
June 6, 2007 2:10 AM

Excellent!

What a great article! I hope you take your husband's advice and write the book!

Anonymous,
August 29, 2011 8:19 PM

Now available!!

I did!! :-)
Thank you for reading this article.
This book is now available for sale in the US here:
http://www.amazon.com/Why-Father-Ran-Henia-Stein/dp/1463796331/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1314648682&sr=8-2
and outside of the US here:
http://www.aish.com/ho/p/48960931.html

(17)
Tova,
June 5, 2007 2:19 PM

Beautiful Story!

Your father's neshama (soul) lives on through your deeds. I'm sure he'd be so proud of you knowing you are learning Torah and trying to keep shabbat. You are truly inspiring for doing so. Good luck on journey. Never stop running. Life is like climbing a down escalator. If you stop for one moment, you will go down. Your father exemplified that by constantly being on the move. Its a great analogy for life and your father's story teaches it well.

(16)
Daniel Rosenzweig,
June 5, 2007 1:45 PM

Searched for - and found relatives!

My grandfather too, lost much family in the Holocaust. His sister Chava and her husband Yosef Gabel were murdered by the Germans, and he understood that all their children had been killed as well. When I was in Yeshiva in Israel in 1984, my grandfather's cousins told me that they'd seen one of his nephews interned on Cyprus before the creation of the State of Israel. I spent the next twenty years looking for any record of him. Finally, about three years ago, I searched an Israeli website I'd never seen before, . I went to the "gimmel" page, and there, in red letters, was my father's name! This cousin was looking for us!!! I called him, and although neither my Hebrew nor my Yiddish is too good, I managed to convey to this eighty year old man that I was the son of the first cousin he was seeking! My father called him as well, and my nephews, who were in Yeshiva in Israel, got together with him. Our family was reunited after fifty years! Although his amily is no longer observant, and my nephews are all "black hatters", our love for each other, and our thrill at having cheated Hitler, y"sh, of a Jewish life, were the reigning emotions. i subsequently got to meet him last summer.Never give up the search!

(15)
Debbie Colby,
June 5, 2007 9:12 AM

Wonderful story!

This is a wonderful story, beautifully written. I'm looking forward to hearing more!

(14)
Russ Stein,
June 5, 2007 8:10 AM

SIMCHA!!!!

I'm Heni's husband! Sam Shatz was my father-in-law. This article is just a fraction of dad's amazing story. Dads hebrew name was Simcha. He celebrated his birthday (since all his records were destroyed) on Simchas Torah. Dad was a simcha. He was both a joy and an occasion and he celebrated life at every chance he could. I would have thought that someone who had been through as much as he had gone through would grow old bitterly but he was the complete opposite to the day he died! Every time we were walking with him and Heni and I would get a bit tired he kept walking and turned to us and said "Come....be a sport." There is so much more to this story and it isn't easy for Heni to write this because of all the pain involved. I have, especially after this article, been trying to encourage her to complete this book. Any encouragment that anyone can pass along to her would be well received and appreciated. She has just lost her job, we are in the midst of buying our first house and it is near our synogogue so that we can be shabbos observant and we have just completed koshering our apartment so there is a lot happening in our lives right now. Just before dad passed away he said to me "Promise me Rooos to take care on my dawhter" I will spend the rest of my life fulfilling that request. I pray for strength for her from Hashem to get through this and complete this important work!!!!! Ahni ohev atah Heni!!!! :-)

(13)
yaseer,
June 5, 2007 12:16 AM

this looks to me when my father had the oppertunity to care me.

advantaged story for me

(12)
Inna,
June 4, 2007 9:44 PM

Thank you for sharing your father's story.

I will look forward to reading the book about his life. A special man.

Anonymous,
August 29, 2011 8:20 PM

Now available!

Thank you for reading this article.
This book is now available for sale in the US here:
http://www.amazon.com/Why-Father-Ran-Henia-Stein/dp/1463796331/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1314648682&sr=8-2
and outside of the US here:
http://www.aish.com/ho/p/48960931.html

(11)
Rabbi Milstein,
June 4, 2007 1:16 PM

My father was from Bilgoraj as well

I visited Bilgoraj last summer to see if I could connect to some remnant of my late father's birthplace. But all had been utterly destroyed. The Jewish cemetary had no identifiable graves, only bits and pieces of deiberately smashed headstones. To make matters worse, I was made to feel exremely unwelcome by the locals. May the martyrs of Bilgoraj be resurrected along with all the fallen K'doshim, speedily in our days.

(10)
Bernard Miller,
June 4, 2007 10:11 AM

I am Henia Stein`s Uncle. Her father was my brother-in-law. He came to the USA when I was about 12 years old. He had married my sister when she visited Israel in 1954. He always loved running. He used to challenge me to catch him when he was standing only inches away from me. I was never able to do so. He named Henis after his sister who was lost in the Holocaust. He was a loving and kind man. Always called my mother Ma. Bernie Miller

(9)
Marc Milton-Talbot,
June 4, 2007 4:44 AM

Very Sad

Very moving story.The images passed before me in my mind like a movie.

(8)
Sonia Nusebaum,
June 4, 2007 4:21 AM

My mother's name was Henia too. I do not believe I ever knew anyone else with my mother's name.

June 5 is the 12th year since my momma died after 6 months in a coma after yet another shock treatment.

I believe coming across her name means she is watching over me.

Thank you.~Sonia

(7)
Carolyn Olugbile,
June 3, 2007 6:07 PM

Beautiful

(6)
Jane Lowney,
June 3, 2007 5:07 PM

Thank you for the best website there is. I make copies and forward many of your articles. It is the one site I look forward to receiving mail from.Toda Raba

(5)
Yona L.,
June 3, 2007 1:53 PM

Very moving

We need to hear these stories of our people. Thank you for writing it and sharing it with us.

Anonymous,
August 29, 2011 8:23 PM

Now available!

Thank you for reading this article.
This book is now available for sale in the US here:
http://www.amazon.com/Why-Father-Ran-Henia-Stein/dp/1463796331/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1314648682&sr=8-2
and outside of the US here:
http://www.aish.com/ho/p/48960931.html

(4)
Shirley Fay Morris,
June 3, 2007 1:50 PM

Lest we forget

I wish that those who teach our children at all levels would teach the truth of the horror of the Holocaust. Alas, this is often not happening in many of our schools these days. I am a Gentile and a Christian but I do enjoy your site.

Anonymous,
August 29, 2011 8:23 PM

Now available!

So true Shirley!!
Thank you for reading this article.
This book is now available for sale in the US here:
http://www.amazon.com/Why-Father-Ran-Henia-Stein/dp/1463796331/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1314648682&sr=8-2
and outside of the US here:
http://www.aish.com/ho/p/48960931.html

(3)
Angela Jo Brittsan,
June 3, 2007 10:33 AM

Running our own race

Beautiful story. Thank you for sharing it with all of us. Most runners have a serious reason why they run. I ran to find myself, in finding myself I slowly find everyone else. Your Dad may not have found anyone but he saved himself, to find you.

Anonymous,
August 29, 2011 8:24 PM

Now available!!

Wow Angela!! You touched my heart.
Thank you for reading this article.
This book is now available for sale in the US here:
http://www.amazon.com/Why-Father-Ran-Henia-Stein/dp/1463796331/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1314648682&sr=8-2
and outside of the US here:
http://www.aish.com/ho/p/48960931.html

(2)
John,
June 3, 2007 10:26 AM

Indeed beautiful!

B"H

Such a moving and beautiful story.

Anonymous,
August 29, 2011 8:24 PM

Now available!

Thank you for reading this article.
This book is now available for sale in the US here:
http://www.amazon.com/Why-Father-Ran-Henia-Stein/dp/1463796331/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1314648682&sr=8-2
and outside of the US here:
http://www.aish.com/ho/p/48960931.html

(1)
Leon,
June 3, 2007 9:13 AM

Beautiful!

What a story. May Hashem grant him rest in Gan Eden, together with his family members.

Anonymous,
August 29, 2011 8:26 PM

Now available!! Posted wrong website on other replies for International Orders!! So sorry!!

Thank you for reading this article.
This book is now available for sale in the US here:
http://www.amazon.com/Why-Father-Ran-Henia-Stein/dp/1463796331/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1314648682&sr=8-2
and outside of the US here:
https://www.createspace.com/3659575

I'm told that it's a mitzvah to become intoxicated on Purim. This puzzles me, because to my understanding, it is not considered a good thing to become intoxicated, period.

One of the characteristics of the at-risk youth is their use of drugs, including alcohol. In my experience, getting drunk doesn't reveal secrets. It makes people act stupid and irresponsible, doing things they would never do if they were sober. Also, I know a lot about the horrible health effects of abusing alcohol, because I work at a research center that focuses on addiction and substance abuse.

Also, I am an alcoholic, which means that if I drink, very bad things happen. I have not had a drink in 22 years, and I have no intention of starting now. Surely there must be instances where a person is excused from the obligation to drink. I don't see how Judaism could ever promote the idea of getting drunk. It just doesn't seem right.

The Aish Rabbi Replies:

Putting aside for a moment all the spiritual and philosophical reasons for getting drunk on Purim, this remains an issue of common sense. Of course, teenagers should be warned of the dangers of acute alcohol ingestion. Of course, nobody should drink and drive. Of course, nobody should become so drunk to the point of negligence in performing mitzvot. And of course, a recovering alcoholic should not partake of alcohol on Purim.

Indeed, the Code of Jewish Law explicitly says that if one suspects the drinking may affect him negatively, then he should NOT drink.

Getting drunk on Purim is actually one of the most difficult mitzvot to do correctly. A person should only drink if it will lead to positive spiritual results - e.g. under the loosening affect of the alcohol, greater awareness will surface of the love for God and Torah found deep in the heart. (Perhaps if we were on a higher spiritual level, we wouldn't need to get drunk!)

Yet the Talmud still speaks of an obligation on Purim of "not knowing the difference between Blessed is Mordechai and Cursed is Haman." How then should a person who doesn't drink get the point of “not knowing”? Simple - just go to sleep! (Rama - OC 695:2)

All this applies to individuals. But the question remains - does drinking on Purim adversely affect the collective social health of the Jewish community?

The aversion to alcoholism is engrained into Jewish consciousness from a number of Biblical and Talmudic sources. There are the rebuking words of prophets - Isaiah 28:1, Hosea 3:1 with Rashi, and Amos 6:6, and the Zohar says that "The wicked stray after wine" (Midrash Ne'alam Parshat Vayera).

It is well known that the rate of alcoholism among Jews has historically been very low. Numerous medical, psychological and sociological studies have confirmed this. The connection between Judaism and sobriety is so evident, that the following conversation is reported by Lawrence Kelemen in "Permission to Receive":

When Dr. Mark Keller, editor of the Quarterly Journal of Studies on Alcohol, commented that "practically all Jews do drink, and yet all the world knows that Jews hardly ever become alcoholics," his colleague, Dr. Howard Haggard, director of Yale's Laboratory of Applied Physiology, jokingly proposed converting alcoholics to the Jewish religion in order to immerse them in a culture with healthy attitudes toward drinking!

Perhaps we could suggest that it is precisely because of the use of alcohol in traditional ceremonies (Kiddush, Bris, Purim, etc.), that Jews experience such low rates of alcoholism. This ceremonial usage may actually act like an inoculation - i.e. injecting a safe amount that keeps the disease away.

Of course, as we said earlier, all this needs to be monitored with good common sense. Yet in my personal experience - having been in the company of Torah scholars who were totally drunk on Purim - they acted with extreme gentleness and joy. Amid the Jewish songs and beautiful words of Torah, every year the event is, for me, very special.

Adar 12 marks the dedication of Herod's renovations on the second Holy Temple in Jerusalem in 11 BCE. Herod was king of Judea in the first century BCE who constructed grand projects like the fortresses at Masada and Herodium, the city of Caesarea, and fortifications around the old city of Jerusalem. The most ambitious of Herod's projects was the re-building of the Temple, which was in disrepair after standing over 300 years. Herod's renovations included a huge man-made platform that remains today the largest man-made platform in the world. It took 10,000 men 10 years just to build the retaining walls around the Temple Mount; the Western Wall that we know today is part of that retaining wall. The Temple itself was a phenomenal site, covered in gold and marble. As the Talmud says, "He who has not seen Herod's building, has never in his life seen a truly grand building."

Some people gauge the value of themselves by what they own. But in reality, the entire concept of ownership of possessions is based on an illusion. When you obtain a material object, it does not become part of you. Ownership is merely your right to use specific objects whenever you wish.

How unfortunate is the person who has an ambition to cleave to something impossible to cleave to! Such a person will not obtain what he desires and will experience suffering.

Fortunate is the person whose ambition it is to acquire personal growth that is independent of external factors. Such a person will lead a happy and rewarding life.

With exercising patience you could have saved yourself 400 zuzim (Berachos 20a).

This Talmudic proverb arose from a case where someone was fined 400 zuzim because he acted in undue haste and insulted some one.

I was once pulling into a parking lot. Since I was a bit late for an important appointment, I was terribly annoyed that the lead car in the procession was creeping at a snail's pace. The driver immediately in front of me was showing his impatience by sounding his horn. In my aggravation, I wanted to join him, but I saw no real purpose in adding to the cacophony.

When the lead driver finally pulled into a parking space, I saw a wheelchair symbol on his rear license plate. He was handicapped and was obviously in need of the nearest parking space. I felt bad that I had harbored such hostile feelings about him, but was gratified that I had not sounded my horn, because then I would really have felt guilty for my lack of consideration.

This incident has helped me to delay my reactions to other frustrating situations until I have more time to evaluate all the circumstances. My motives do not stem from lofty principles, but from my desire to avoid having to feel guilt and remorse for having been foolish or inconsiderate.

Today I shall...

try to withhold impulsive reaction, bearing in mind that a hasty act performed without full knowledge of all the circumstances may cause me much distress.

With stories and insights,
Rabbi Twerski's new book Twerski on Machzor makes Rosh Hashanah prayers more meaningful. Click here to order...